Chris Bajaj, DO
Dr. Bajaj
is a physician with a passion for prevention. He has always wanted to give patients the opportunity to help themselves. He has seen what patients can do with small changes in their everyday life.

Born and raised in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Dr. Bajaj is a true native. He received his Bachelors’ degree from The University of Texas at Austin and then completed his medical school training at The University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. This medical school is one the top rated of all medical schools (both allopathic “MD” and osteopathic “DO”) in the country by US News and World Report. Dr. Bajaj completed both his residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship training in Endocrinology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Dr. Bajaj started practicing in a growing clinic in Grapevine, Texas for 2 years. In 2007, he joined Dr. Lackan in opening the Diabetes and Thyroid Center of Fort Worth. Since this time, the practice has flourished and grown significantly. He has been voted by other physicians as a “Top Doc” in the field of Endocrinology for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 by Fort Worth, Texas Magazine. He was also elected to the Leadership Board of the American Diabetes Association in 2011. He is married to his beautiful wife since 2002 and blessed with 2 amazing children. He is active in church and enjoys running. He has finished several marathons, half marathons and an Olympic length triathlon.

Dr. Bajaj has been featured on the Discovery Health Channel program, Mystery Diagnosis. “This was a special case for me, and I feel blessed to have been apart of it.” says Dr. Bajaj. With the help of Dr. Darren Lackan, he diagnosed an extremely rare tumor that was excreting a hormone causing hypoglycemia and abnormal growth. At the time, there were less than 20 cases published on the condition. Once the tumor was surgically removed, the patient’s condition completely reversed.

Darren Lackan, MD
Darren Lackan, MD is a native Texan. He was born in San Antonio and has lived throughout the state. He attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and returned to San Antonio to attend medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Lackan then moved to Galveston to complete a three year training program in Internal Medicine and a two year fellowship program in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). After finishing his fellowship training, he stayed on as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine within the Division of Endocrinology at UTMB. Dr. Lackan spent this time training Endocrinology fellows, Internal Medicine residents and medical students. He remains an adjunct Assistant Professor at UTMB.

In 2005, Dr. Lackan moved to Fort Worth to be closer to his wife’s family. He began practicing Endocrinology in Fort Worth in April 2005 with Baylor Specialty Associates. In January 2007, Dr. Lackan founded the Diabetes and Thyroid Center of Fort Worth. He plans to build the Center into a world class diabetes center and a regional center of excellence for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Dr. Lackan’s other professional interests include metabolism, weight loss and thyroid disorders. In Fall 2010, the Diabetes and Thyroid Center will be moving into a new facility where Dr. Lackan will be opening a weight loss and metabolism center.

Dr. Lackan is board certified in Internal Medicine and Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is licensed by the state of Texas to administer radioactive iodine in the clinic to treat various thyroid disorders including cancer. Additionally, he is a member of the Texas Medical Association, the Tarrant County Medical Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Clinical Endocrinologists.

Dr. Lackan has received numerous awards and certifications including funding from the National Institutes of Health, being named a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology (FACE), designated as an Endocrine Certified Neck Ultrasonographer (ECNU), and named Fort Worth Top Doc in Endocrinology for the past 5 years.

Anjanette Tan, MDDr. Tan was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She finished medical school in 1998 at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, through the Integrated Liberal Arts-Medicine program, a prestigious 7-year accelerated program that admits forty high school applicants from the top qualifiers of the university’s entrance exam. She completed her Internal Medicine residency training in 2002 at Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the Medical College of Pennsylvannia/Hahnemann. She received the James F. Gleason Resident Teacher Award and the Scholastic Achievement Award. She then pursued her fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, Missouri, graduating in 2004. She has written several manuscripts and articles on diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

After her training, she started her Endocrinology practice at Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville, Virginia, helping the underserved communities of Southside Virginia. During this time, she served as an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, an affiliate of Virginia Tech University

Dr. Tan and family moved to North Texas, and joined DTC in 2010. She is very grateful to be among excellent physicians in practice, while being closer to family who mostly resides in San Antonio. She and husband Joel have two girls—Ava is 11 and into competitive swimming and piano; Ella is 6 and enjoys singing, playing, gardening.

Dr. Tan is board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology (FACE), and also designated as an Endocrine Certified Neck Ultrasonographer (ECNU). Her practice is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) in thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound. Dr. Tan has achieved Bridges to Excellence recognition for providing exceptional care for patients with diabetes. She has been named one of Fort Worth’s Top Docs in Endocrinology for 2012 and 2013. She is a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the Endocrine Society. Dr. Tan is also active in clinical research, serving as principal investigator for ongoing trials with Baylor Research Institute.

She believes that her role is to be a compassionate bridge between the complex and rapid advances in the science of hormones and realistic limitations posed by each unique patient situation. She strives to always be an advocate for her patients.

Christopher Hudak, MD
Dr. Hudak is a native Texan who grew up in Plano and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a B.A. Biology degree, magna cum laude, in 2004. During his college years, he received an award for exemplary service and leadership as part of a pre-medical honor society. Upon graduation, Dr. Hudak attended Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine where he received his M.D. in 2008. It was in College Station where he met his beautiful wife, Jessica, who is now a practicing veterinarian in Keller. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, VA. However, after years away Dr. Hudak wanted to come back to Texas to complete his fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, which he recently completed in 2013.

He is an active member of the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Endocrine Society. During endocrinology fellowship, Dr. Hudak took part in research related to the genetics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus--his passion. This past summer at the 2013 Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting and Expo, Dr. Hudak's case abstract was selected for a Travel Grant Award.

Dr. Hudak is an active member of his church, enjoys reading, exercising, watching all sports, playing golf and basketball, and is an avid movie-goer. He and his wife have a precious 2 year-old son, Alex, who is growing up to be quite the champion swimmer.

Dr. Hudak is dedicated to providing his patients with a wonderful experience that emphasizes compassion, advocacy for the patient, patient education and the delivery of quality healthcare. He strives to ensure that each patient receives excellent service that is rooted in the ethos that every patient is unique and deserves the best, evidence-based clinical care.

Laura Sapaugh MPAS, PA-C
Laura Sapaugh was born in St. Louis, MO. Her family moved to Spring, TX (near Houston) when she was a toddler. She graduated cum laude from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science and went on to earn her Master’s degree from The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Physician Assistant Studies. She worked as a Physician Assistant for 2 years in women’s health before being offered the opportunity to join Diabetes and Thyroid Center.

Laura’s interest in a medical career stemmed from growing up with a father with Type I diabetes. She observed how treating his diabetes was a part of normal life and did not hold him back from living life to the fullest. This inspired her to learn more about diabetes and pursuing a career where she would be involved in patient care. Patient education is also very important to Laura. For her master’s thesis she focused on motivating patients to make positive changes for their health such as quitting smoking and initiating physical activity. Laura is passionate about preventative care and encouraging patients to take ownership of their health.

Laura and her husband Micah enjoy living in Fort Worth with their two dogs and their new baby girl.

Karis Pasley, RN, FNP
Karis medical passion began at a young age, as the granddaughter of a World War II Medic and full time cattle rancher. She grew up working and learning the everyday life of ranching, treating, and caring for animals. Growing up she spent equal time between Fort Worth and the Hill Country on her family's ranch. She found her love of nursing at TCU, after a personal accident landed her in the caring hands of a Parkland Trauma Nurse.

Karis spent the first 10 years of practice in Family and Internal medicine. Karis first realized her passion for endocrinology through the treatment of female and male hormone deficiencies in family medicine. She also found a love when encouraging education on achieving a healthier lifestyle with every patient. She decided to make endocrinology her full time practice and joined DTC in 2014.

She believes that education is the key to improving heath, which comes with learning the proper use of diet, medication, and lifestyle to improve health. Karis believes that it takes both the dedication of the practitioner and the patient to have a successful treatment outcomes.

In her spare time, you can find Karis cheering on her beloved TCU Horned Frogs at football games, as well as her enjoying spending time in the Hill Country with her husband, daughter, and Great Dane.